The Faculty of Psychology at Mercu Buana University Yogyakarta (UMBY), in collaboration with the Yogyakarta City Library and Archives Office, held a Community Service (PkM) activity in the form of a parenting seminar. Focusing on emotional regulation for children and parents, the event was held online on Wednesday (April 15, 2026) and was attended by 40 parents.

The seminar was led by Dr. Martaria Rizky Rinaldi, M.Psi., Psychologist, the Head of the Community Service Team and the main resource person. In the session, she presented the topic "Emotional Regulation Strategies for Children and Parents: Preventing and Managing Emotional Outbursts in Children."

In her presentation, Martaria emphasized that emotional outbursts, or tantrums, in children are not simply negative behavior, but rather part of the process of immature emotional development.

"Tantrums often occur because children are not yet able to express their needs or emotions appropriately. This is where the role of parents is crucial in helping children recognize, understand, and manage their emotions," explained Martaria.

He also emphasized the importance of emotional regulation skills for parents themselves. "Children learn from their parents. If parents are easily provoked, children will imitate them. Conversely, if parents are able to remain calm and consistent, children will learn to manage their emotions more adaptively," he added.

The seminar was very interactive, as evidenced by the many questions participants submitted via the chat section during the session. The questions reflected real-life experiences of parents, ranging from children throwing tantrums because their desires were not met, children's difficulty expressing their emotions, to aggressive behavior such as hitting and kicking when angry.

Several participants also highlighted the challenges of dealing with different parenting styles within the family, such as grandparents intervening when a child cries, and the confusion over deciding whether to calm a child during a tantrum or waiting until the child has calmed down. Furthermore, the issue of screen time and its impact on children's emotions was also a widely discussed topic.

Khoirunnisa, a participant from Yogyakarta, felt the material presented was very relevant to her daily life. "The material was very relatable to my situation as a parent. I now understand better why children throw tantrums and how they should respond, rather than simply forbidding or scolding them," she said.

The presenter comprehensively addressed all participants' concerns using an applicable psychological approach. Participants were equipped with tactical steps, such as validating children's emotions, consistently implementing boundaries, and how to avoid responses that reinforce negative behaviors.

Through this program, the UMBY Faculty of Psychology affirms its commitment to continuously making a real contribution to society through scientifically based parenting education. Parents are expected to be better prepared to support their children's emotional development, thereby creating healthy, supportive, and adaptive parenting patterns within the family environment.